Bowling pin lifting and resetting apparatus



c. M. WEBER ETAL BOWLING PIN LIF'TING AND RESETTING APPARATUS Sept. s, 1953 3 Sheets-Shed. 1

Filed Jan. 28, 1947 llll moms c. I FULVJNO IN V EN TORS Sept. 8, 1953 c. M. WEBER ETAL 2,651,519

BOWLING PIN LIFTING AND RESETTING APPARATUS I Filed Jan. 28, 1947 V l r 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 C4RL M. WEVBER THOMAS C PULVINO IN V EN TORS IIIII Z;ZZZT ZZIIIIIIZI BYMQW ATTORMEIY Sept. 8, 1953 c. M. WEBER ETAL BOWLING PIN LIFTING AND RESETTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1947 5 sheets sheet 3 CARL M. WEBER. THOMAS C. PL LWNO 7 INVENTORS ULM EM 1 4 ATTORNEY details;

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED PATENT OFFICE BOWLING PIN LIFTING AND RE SETTiNG Y APPARATUS Carl M. Weber and Thomas Q lulvino, Rochester, N-. Y., assignors to Weber Machine Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application J anuary 28, 1947, Serial No. 724,792 I V trative embodiment of the invention in the..fol-

lowing description and in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic fragmentary side elevation of'the mechanism, especially showing the various positions of the'upper and lower parts or portions of the pin' spotter;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of part of the mechanism sown in Fig. 1, illustrating additional Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the construction shown inFig. 2, viewed from a different direction;

Fig. 4 is a. section takensubstantially on the line44-ofFig.2;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the lower pin spotter;

. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary'plan of the lower pin spotter showing the .jaws for holding the pin and the pneumatic cylinders for operating the jaws, and the piping connections; I

Fig. '7 is a section taken substantially on the line 1-'l ofFig.6;'

Fig. 8 is a section takenisubstantially on'the line 8-8 ofFig.6; I 1 l Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the pneumatic connections of the lower pin spotter;

and v v Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevationofthe entire mechanism illustrating diagrammatically some of the pneumatic connections'and some-of the electrical switch connections.

. The same reference-numerals throughout several views indicate the same parts v Referring now to Fig. 10, the rear endor pin end of the bowlingalley surface is, indicated at 50.- Supported from suitable uprights (not shown) at the sides of the alley are-various parts of the mechanism, including a guard member 55 extending across substantially the entire width of the alley and the gutters, and operated up and down bya pneumatic cylinder 56.

The mechanism includes a pin magazine indicated in general at 8|, and a pin spotter or placing mechanism in two parts or halves, one of which may be called theupper' pin spotter the 82 and the other of-which may be referred to' as 7 Claims. (01. 273-42) erated by the pneumatic cylinder 93.

the lower pin spotter 83, both of which are mountedfor vertical movement with respect-to the alley 'floor. Through various means not here shown, the pins are placed in the magazine. From the magazine they go into the two-part pin spotter, which is then lowered to place the pins on the floorv of thealley, and the spotters 82 and 83 are-again raised-.-. However, after a player has rolled one ball,--. the pin spotters are lowered so that the lower spotter portion 83 is at thelevel of the necks of the standing pins, and it operates to grasp the necks of the pins and to pick up the pins which are left standing so that the fallen pins may be swept off of the alley, whereupon thepin spotter then lowers the pins which were left standing and places them again on the .alley in their exact original positions where they were left after the rolling of the ball. The parts are now ready for the player to roll the second ball.

When "the standing pins are lifted from the alley after the rolling of the first ball, for the purpose of sweeping the fallen pins from the alley, it is important that the standing pins be replaced on-the alley in exactly the same positions from which they were picked up, even if the spotter, as shown in Fig. 5, contains, ten holes, .as indicated at 85 in Fig. 5. Each hole is of a diameter substantially larger than that of the bowling pin, to allow for substantial movement of the pin from its theoretical position, without interfering with the picking up. of the pin. Associated with each of theseholes are two jaws, a first jaw- (Figs. 6 and '7) having a smooth surface and beingoperated-by a pneumatic cylinder 9|, and a second jaw 92 having a serrated surface coveredwith rubber, this jaw being op- The jaw 92 is'a rigid jaw in fixed relation to the piston of its cylinder 93. The first jaw 90, however, is

a jaw which is pivoted at 94 to thQSlldB 95which is rigidly connected to thepiston; As soon as the advancing slide 95 and jaw 90 contact with the neck ofa pin left standing, the jaw 90 will pivot slightly on its pivot 94 andwill push against amember .96 tofactuate the micro-switch 91.

Normally air pressure is delivered from the com- .switch 91-. is .operatedythis operates a solenoid operate.

opposite side from that which is engaged by the The neck of the spin is thus firmly jaw 90. clamped between the two jaws, in its original position, due to the fact that the slide 95 is securely locked by the plunger {I01 or the solenoid I00.

In any hole 85 in which no pinis left stand ing, the jaw 90 will continue .its trayelsall the way until it engages the opposite jaw 32, since no pin is in the way to stop the motion'of the jaw and thus to cause the micro-switch 97 to When the jaw 90 comes into contact with the jaw 92, at the end of its travel, then the micro-switch will operate just as previously described.

When all of the jaw operations have been completed, the continuedflow of air in from the feed line with no further movement of the pistons possible, will cause the air-pressure to'build up in the pneumatic system. This increase -of air pressure will operate a pressure-responsive electric switch which energizes a circuit to operate the up-travel solenoid I040, of a solenoid valve I04 to permit flow of compressed air to the lower ends of the cylinders I05, thus raising the pin spotter 83 andcarrying with it the bowling pins which were :left standing, because of the clamping of the necks of these pins by the jaws 90 and 92. Duringthe upward travel of the lower spotter, carrying the standing pins with it, a

contact is made by the movingparts with microcompletion of the sweeping cycle, the sweep mechanism will operate-a-switch which-will operate the down-travel solenoid 1041: :to reverse the solenoid valve I04 so'as-to-lower the pin spotter-83 again, in'orderto set the pins which were left standing after the "roll of the first ball back'onto thesurface of the alley in their original positions.

As the pin spotter 83 comes down again at the completion of the sweeping operation, a notch 225 on the rod or shaft I20 (Fig. -l) which supports the-spotter 83 operates'the micro-switch 12!, designated also as micro-switch No. 2. The

operation of thisswitch de-energizes all of the locking solenoids I of the pin spotter 83, through suitable circuitsandat the same time operates an air-control valve torelease air pressure from the far ends of the cylinders-9| and -93 and tosupply compressed air to-the' nearv ends of the cylinders (that is, the ends nearest their respectivepin holes 85) so'that all of the jaws 90 and 92 are simultaneously moved back to their original position, unclamping any pins that have been clamped by these sjawszand allowing the pins to remainon the alley floor. soon .as the air pressure builds .up'inithe near ends of the solenoids. roflboth partsof the spotter whensetting a'frame stoppin thesmovem nt' a no :helowthe original pos ion which... masazinessl. Theparts now-remain whatli a all of these cylinders, the above mentioned pressure-responsive switch is operated which energizes the up-travel solenoid I04a so that the pin spotter 83 returns upwardly to its so-called stand-by position or interrupted position, indicated at C in Fig. 1.

The upper spotter 82 is provided with a series 'of ten holes for the bowling pins, vertically alined with holes in the magazine 8I.

The holes of the magazine and the holes of the upper spotter .82 are, of course, vertically alined with the holes in the lower spotter 83. Ijhe construction of the clamping jaws associated with these 'holes I35 in the lower spotter has already been described.

Pivoted latches I66 are mounted on the lower spotter 83 and project upwardly therefrom to engage the bottom of the upper spotter 82 to hold the two spotters a certain distance away from each other at the desired time. The magazine 8I has cam members I67 projecting downwardly from it to engage the latches I66 when the upper spotter and lower spotter both come up close to the magazine, so as to throw the latches I66 outwardly and :allow the lower spotter to come up close under the upper. Whenever the lower spotter and upper spotter are away from the magazine, after once the lower spotter and upper spotter have been vertically separated from each other, the latches I66 will spring into position and prevent the two spotters from coming :close to each other until they are raised to their high position near the-magazine, when the latches Will be released as above mentioned.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings,

it is seen that the supporting posts I20 which support the lower spotter 583 fromthe-pneumatic cylinders I05 which operate this spotter, are :notched at 5225 through a certain distance. Two solenoids 22'! operate plungers 226 to engage -:in :these notches to operate'as-stopsto'limit the upward and downward movement of the spotter under certain conditions; When the spotter is in its highest position close to the magazine ill, the notches 225i are above the plungers 226 of 'In the first downward movement of pins, the lower spotter-83 fmoves all'the .way down and the upper end of the notch225 passes down below the latching plungers .225, so that the lower spotter goes all the way down tothe low position shownindottedlines at A in Fig. 1 but the upper spotter 82 at this timeisretained :a little above the lower spotter.

'sosthat theupperandlowenspotters Will now be held separated from each other during the further movement of the parts ,untilthe time comes for setting up ar.-complete.-;neweframeof .pi s- Now the-rods I20are-raisedbythe air cylinders I05 :to ,liftthe spotters, the latches 16.6 still holding the upper spotter a, substantial distance above the lowerspotte bu during the upward move ment, the ironl d solenoids :22! op rate he latching 1p1ungers .1225 into "th notch s 22.5 .91

the rods I20:sozthatpth lpluneers- 225 enga -tho lower en of thesonot hesastherods com up. .n somewh r' l se to th calledtheinterrupted positio ro standm p siti n. whichsn sit on is indio tedat 1Q Fi ;1.

, if the player, on the roll ofhis first ball, has not made a strike, air cylinders 105 are operated to lower the spotters-82and 83 as raruownas they can come while the latches 226 arein the notches 225 ofthe shafts I20. These latches and notches'prevent the spotters from going all the way down, but they go' down to the spare pick-up position, the spotters being somewhat separated from each other at this time bythelatches I66. The positionto' which the lowerspotter descends (which is governed'fby the-engagement of" the plungers 226 with-theupper ends of the notches 225 in the shafts) is a position in which the lower spotter 83 is located approximately at the level of thenecks of the bowling pins which are left standing. The up per end of the notch 225 operates microswitch'No. 2, which activates the air valve 99 to admit air .tothecylinders on the lower spotter. Then, in the manner previously described, the jaws of the lowerv spotter .wmoperate to grip all the standing pins at the'necks of these pins, whereupon the spotters (both lower and upper) rise once more to the interrupted or stand-by position, determined by the engagement of the plungers 226 with the lower ends of the notches 225. When they reach this position, the lower ends of the notches225 operate microswitches No. 3, which starts, the operation of the sweep motor, if meanwhile the pressureswitch activated by all the jaws on the lower spotter has been operated by the building up of the air pressure. This pressure switch is in series with micro-switch No. 3, so that if the pressure switch has not operated, the sweep motor will not start.

At the completion of the sweeping cycle, the

sweep mechanism operates a switch (not shown) which operates the solenoid lMb controlling the air valve I04 so as to lower the spotter to set back on the alley the pins which were left standing and which were picked up by the spotter.

The spotter, when re-setting the pins which were left standing, goes down only to the socalled spare pick-up position shown in Fig. 1. The jaws on the lower spotter 83 are then opened, and the air pressure operates the pressure controlled switch to energize the up travel solenoid lMa so that the spotters 82 and 83 move upwardly once more to the interrupted or stand-by position indicated at C in Fig. 1.

The pins which were left standing after the roll of the first ball are now re-set in the alley in exactly the same positions which they previously occupied, and the player is ready to roll his second ball, which he now does.

It is seen from the foregoing disclosure that the above mentioned objects of the invention are admirably fulfilled. It is to be understood that the foregoing disclosure is by the way of illustrative example only, rather than by way of limitation, and that without departing from the invention, the details may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling pin setting machine including a frame movable upwardly and downwardly, a pair of opposed jaws mouned for substantially horizontal movement in said frame, one of said jaws having a pivoted part, means for moving said one of said jaws toward a bowling pin until said pivoted part makes contact with said bowling pin, means controlled by movement of said pivoted part of said jaw for stopping further movement of said jaw and for commencing movement of the opposite jaw toward the opposite side of the bowling pin, and means for raising said frame 8 with the bowling pin grasped-between saidj'aws to raise the pin from the bowling alley. 1 2. A bowling pin respotter including a: movable frame adapted in one'position to lie approximately parallel to a bowling; alley floor at approximately the elevation of the necks of bowl ing pins standing onsaid floor, a series of sets of clam'ping jaws movably mounted on said frame, one set for each bowling pm, each set of jaws comprising two jaws both mounted for movement along one line and being elongated laterally in a direction substantially perpendicular to said'line, one jaw of 'each'set having a pressure-sensitive part'thereon displaceable with respect to the remainder of the jaw, means for moving one jaw of each set toward the neckof a standing pin until it comes into contact with one side of said neck, while the other jawof that set remains stationary; and means controlled by displacement of the pressure-sensitive parser the jaw for thereafter'moving the other jawof each set toward theopposite side of said neck to contact therewith and to clamp the neck againstthe first jaw.-'- I Y 5 3. A bowling 'pin setting'machine includinga spotter movable upwardly and downwardly relative tothe alley floon'a pluralityof openings in 'thespotter, one for each pin, two clamping j'aws associated with each opening for cl'amping the neck "of apin betweenthem to pe'rmi't the pin to be raised from the alley floor when the spotter is raised, said jaws being arranged substantially parallel to each other and being elongated in lateral directions substantially perpendicular to their directions of movement and being mounted for independent non-simultaneous movement to ward the neck of a pin, two fluid pressure cylinders, one operatively connected to each of said jaws, an electrically operated valve for controlling flow of fluid to the respective cylinders, and an electric switch operated by contact of the first jaw with the neck of the pin, to operate said valve to stop fiow of fluid to the cylinder connected to the first jaw and to startflow of fluid to the cylinder connected to the second jaw.

4. A construction as defined in claim 3, further including clamping means cooperating with said first jaw to clamp the same against movement, and means operated by said electric switch to actuate said clamping means to clamp said first jaw, substantially simultaneously with operation of said valve to stop fiow of fluid to the cylinder connected to said first jaw.

5. A bowling pin mechanism including a spotter movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the alley floor, a plurality of openings in the spotter, one for each pin, two clamping jaws associated with each opening and constituting a set of jaws for clamping the neck of a pin between them to permit the pin to be raised from the alley floor when the spotter is raised, the two jaws of each set being mounted for non-simultaneous movement toward each other and toward the neck of a pin interposed between the two jaws, two fluid pressure cylinders associated with each set of jaws, one cylinder being operatively connected to each of said jaws, a valve for controlling flow of operating fluid to one or the other of the two cylinders associated with each set of jaws, a clamp for clamping a first jaw of each set against further movement notwithstanding continued pressure applied by the fluid pressure cylinder operatively connected to the first jaw, a feeler mounted on and movable bodily with the first jaw of each set and also movable relative bk; aw a amn mam mmm i arid mew; to (j. A

" mmsmnqws; :J a m b K'fiEMQ i th fil QI RQEQQE UNBIED: STATES: PATENTS 1 km .4 I"?.T CT June i 13 3 2 9; 1930 Nov. 3 1942 July 11 1944 0 95. 24; 1944 Nov. 271 1955 NQY. 2191950 Jam-1; 1952 

